I've spent three days in Split last summer and found this little accomodation in the very center of the city and near the port. The view from my room was amazing: my window was just in front of Peristil. This area of Split city center is very busy even during the night so you can experience a little bruit, but if you like nightliving you are in the right place. My room was simple and ikea-style, but anyway elegant and very clean, featuring air conditioning and even free internet access. These rooms are cheaper than hotel's ones, but more expensive than a hostel room. A sort of B&B without breakfast.
Poljana Kraljice Jelene, 2
Split 21000, Croatia (HR)
Tel: 00385 21 879140
www.staytosee.com
Huge farmer's and trader's market. Mostly fresh produce, with a corner for crafts. Street level is fruits and vegetables. Side building is for seafood, and a couple of floors below-ground house fresh and deli meats, and cheese.
Fantastic for assembling a cheap and delicious picnic, even better if you're buying food to cook in your self cate apartment. If you're not the DIY type, choose one of the many wine and local "tapas" bars on the perimeter to people-watch.
Open from 6am - 2pm each day, and until 3pm on Saturdays.
The Dolac Market is situated 50 metres off the main town square (Jelacic Square).
bit.ly/5mDNXz
Google map: tinyurl.com/ygwvhk7
Right at the top of the Old City Walls, the magical vine-shaded terrace of Lady Pi-Pi offers drinks, sandwiches and an open grill far from the madding crowd with a great view of the Old Town's rooftops.
Vl. Dinko Minjkovic
Peline
Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 9 709 8644
bit.ly/7SEkho
Tiny five table establishment in Dubrovnik's Old Town serves up fantastic grilled meat. Great location for people-watching.
Getaldiceva 10 (Old Town)
bit.ly/7SEkho
Start with lovely bread baked on site, follow with an artfully made but simple fish broth and house salad.
Then make the tough choice of either whole-grilled local fish, or meat traditionally slow cooked in a cast-iron pot, sitting on coals and covered with hot ash. (Slow cooked meat needs to be ordered in advance)
Go with a group so you can sample it all.
Iva Dulcica 39, Babin Kuk
20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 20 448 351
(Follow directions to the President hotel resort. The restaurant is part of the accompanying low-rise retail complex)
bit.ly/76RwdZ
Delicious seafood salads and platters. On the pricier side, but comes with a great view of yachts. (The restaurant, though situated at the yacht club, is open to the public)
Well fitted for a romantic dinner out.
Ivana Zajca 2 (at the yacht club)
20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 20 435 933
www.yc-orsan.hr/
Fantastically fresh mussels, delicious risotto. Good quality, generous portions, very fair price
Great people-watching location. Situated at the old fish market, where day-expedition boats now set out.
More details and photos here
bit.ly/76RwdZ
Gorica Sv. Vlaha 77
20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 20 324747
Google map: tinyurl.com/ycuc28r
The ferry between Rovinj and Red Island takes you to a beautiful, quiet island, with tree lined beaches. Do beware - some of the beaches are nudist!
Jelsa is a small fishing town around 20km east of Hvar town. With several restaurants, bars and ice-cream cafes it has a charming, family feel. It is a great base to go on and explore from, with day trips to Brac Island and lots of places to hire bikes and scooters.
The catamaran goes once a day from Split to Jelsa via Brac Island and costs no more than a few pounds. Word of warning though: the bus services to and from Jelsa are somewhat limited.
It's a relatively new shopping centre, with a modern multiplex cinema. It has a great bookshop with a large international section as well as the normal international brands in clothes, etc. Parking is free at the moment (and underground) and it's a good place for a coffee too if you need some air conditioning.
You'll find it in the new Brodarica area of Split, near Hotels Atrium and Art, about a 15 minute walk from the town centre.
Makrovega is one of Dalmatia's few vegetarian restaurants, a short walk from Split seafront (Riva). You'll need to look at the website to find it but it offers good value vegan or macrobiotic menus.
www.makrovega.hr/#/gdje-smo/
This link should take you direct to the map - unfortunately the website is just in Croatian at the moment.
Five star hotel located out of the town. Cool, contemporary design, fantastic spa and rooftop (undercover) pool and jacuzzi were the highlight. Rooms were spacious and relaxing. The only down side was the distance to town and the local area is not attractive, however step on a bus or into a taxi outside and in 5 -10 mins you can reach everything you need.
The service felt a little strained, but it served its purpose. I would highly recommend this for a relaxing stay of around two or three nights on the way to somewhere else!
A beautiful and recently refurbished five star hotel, with the best location in the city. It was built to serve the Orient Express customers and the decor and ambience reflect this.
It was one of the best hotels I've ever stayed in, oozed luxury and relaxation, beutiful rooms with L'Occitane toiletries, lovely massage in the spa downstairs, gorgeous terrace bar and great service. Zagreb is a gem of a city and felt friendly from the moment we arrived. This hotel made it the highlight of my holiday. I loved it.
Two minute walk from the station
There is no better way to see Croatian coast than sailing. Late spring and early summer is a great time as you get the unspoiled coast with all the summer features such as
warm temperature of the sea and nice weather but without all the summer crowds and season pricing.
I have recently had a great gastronomic cruise there, and without any hesitation I warmly advise you to check www.tajnamora.hr for the friendliest and comfiest gastro cruise around Adriatic!
www.tajnamora.hr
A cheap, friendly pavement restaurant near the city centre that serves fantastic black squid risotto and oysters.
Gunduliceva poljana 8
My wife and stayed in Dubrovnik last September (2008) for 2 weeks, and rather than stay in a hotel we followed a recommendation by a good friend of ours and rented an apartment. The main advantage to us was the possibility to stay within the walls of the old town. The hotels are all outside the walls (except for the over-priced 5 star Pucic Palace). We booked Darija Apartments direct with the owner, and I can honestly say that it was a seamless experience. We felt well looked after, but there was none of the intrusiveness you get with a hotel - a nice balance. The apartment itself was perfect; clean, modern decor, comfortable, all the facilities you could want, and a fair price. All in all it was a great holiday made all the better by a great accommodation choice. One potential problem though: We've recommended it to so many of our friends you might not find availability ;-)
The most scenic train journey ever taken had to be Ploce on the Croatian coast, east to Sarajevo. Riding the dated German train, rolling through tunnels in the mountain side by the river, the mind wanders to the recent scars of war. A magical journey, made all the more special on arriving in Sarajevo to the sights and sounds of the East.
Great hostel in Dubrovnik Old Town. Best location on the Pile Bay: 20m from the beach and only 80m from the historical street Placa. They offer both shared and private rooms.
Marco, the owner, also offers luxury apartments in the city center of Dubrovnik.
We had a family apartment for five which was spotlessly clean, secure, with all amenities.
The staff is very helpful and extremely hospitable.
We had the best recommendations for restaurants, things to do and they also helped us with car rental.
We would definitely stay again the next holiday.
Od Tabakarije 19
20000 Dubrovnik
+385 (0) 91 739 75 45
www.hostelsdubrovnik.com
hosteldubrovnik@yahoo.com
I spent a day on a sea kayaking trip with Hvar Adventure. It was great experience in amazing surroundings. Loved it and recommend it.
Great place in Jelsa on Hvar, with very reasonable prices. I enjoyed my stay at the hostel and I recommend it.